benivolent wrote:Whether or not a deal actually happens with Washington, that's some serious mind-fracking with other teams who might be interested but aren't willing to pony up for Lu.

Haha, the situation and events are rather amusing on their own, but this is VERY amusing if this is a calculated troll on MG's part.

Gillis can't be that much of a Dufus, this is MoneyPuck we are talking about. If this is the case he is just making himself look like an ass amongst the GM Fraternity. They all talk pretty much on a daily basis. "Hey George, it's Dale Tallon here, what is Mike and Lawrence doing there?" George - "I have no fucking idea, got nothing in the works with them"?

HW is just miffed she hasn't gotten any real inside juicy gossip for a long time now.

I am not a fan of Gillis but I do think he is personally scouting for a reason other than what you say - "Mind Fracking"? If that was the case, can we please organize a mutiny and remove the jackass mind fracker from the GM chair.

"I just want to say one word to you. Just one word. Are you listening? - Plastics." - The Graduate

"With regard to VAN's Gillis-Gilman in WSH yesterday, Caps haven't spoken to VAN about Luongo and apparently no appetite to do so."

Also "Luongo's contract not one WSH would entertain. That said, Caps' netminding not sharp of late but will ride it with Neuwirth-Holtby for now."

And "Oh, yeah, for consipiracy theorists, WSH isn't talking to VAN, has no plans to talk to VAN on any goalie. BTW, VAN isn't trading Schneider."

So, in other words, nothing is new. Could be Washington, could be Pittsburgh, could be that Gillis and Gilman wanted to take in a NHL game for fun (not likely). Who knows, but speculating is becoming a bit of a serious hobby in Canuck Land.

I still maintain that the best strategy is to ride Luongo and Schneider here in this oddball shortened season, hope the team gets and can stay healthy, add where needed towards the trade deadline and make another huge push towards the holy grail.

herb wrote:I still maintain that the best strategy is to ride Luongo and Schneider here in this oddball shortened season, hope the team gets and can stay healthy, add where needed towards the trade deadline and make another huge push towards the holy grail.

Some argue that it's a poor allocation of resources to have two goalies eating up $9.3M in cap space but it's not like the Canucks have available options they can spend that money on. With the cap going down next year it's about cutting salary and adding some valuable, cheap assets. Those types of assets don't help the team now, so why dump Luo's salary just for the sake of it when that's a better off-season move?

I think if the Canucks had signed Doan, that would have been a reasonable allocation of Luo's salary that would make a in-or-pre-season trade more appealing. That would have caused some issues for next year's cap but with two buy-outs and improved play from Ballard the situation may have not been all that dire.

While Luongo is clearly the frontburner Canuck trade item, it could also be the case that G & g are scouting for a trade that does not involve Bobby Lou, or Schneider either, but maybe some other deal they may be concocting. I'd imagine GMMG's discussions with other GM's don't solely revolve around his goalies.

Boston Canucker wrote:While Luongo is clearly the frontburner Canuck trade item, it could also be the case that G & g are scouting for a trade that does not involve Bobby Lou, or Schneider either, but maybe some other deal they may be concocting. I'd imagine GMMG's discussions with other GM's don't solely revolve around his goalies.

Some argue that it's a poor allocation of resources to have two goalies eating up $9.3M in cap space but it's not like the Canucks have available options they can spend that money on.

Theoretically, if the Canucks are foregoing the opportunity of having somebody else on their roster who could help the team in another way, then having two #1 goaltenders is wasteful. There is no evidence that this is the case.

I am inclined to believe that the inevitable Luongo trade will bag us "futures" in the form of prospects and/or draft picks instead of veteran help; therefore I don't think there is any rush in making a move. When the right deal comes along, a move will be made.

If this was a full 82 game season, I could get behind it being odd that Luongo is still around, but since this is a whacko condensed schedule season where depth is going to be at even more of a premium that usual, I think having both will be an asset more than a liability.

"With regard to VAN's Gillis-Gilman in WSH yesterday, Caps haven't spoken to VAN about Luongo and apparently no appetite to do so."

Also "Luongo's contract not one WSH would entertain. That said, Caps' netminding not sharp of late but will ride it with Neuwirth-Holtby for now."

And "Oh, yeah, for consipiracy theorists, WSH isn't talking to VAN, has no plans to talk to VAN on any goalie. BTW, VAN isn't trading Schneider."

So, in other words, nothing is new. Could be Washington, could be Pittsburgh, could be that Gillis and Gilman wanted to take in a NHL game for fun (not likely). Who knows, but speculating is becoming a bit of a serious hobby in Canuck Land.

I still maintain that the best strategy is to ride Luongo and Schneider here in this oddball shortened season, hope the team gets and can stay healthy, add where needed towards the trade deadline and make another huge push towards the holy grail.

Of course they are talking - why wouldn't the Caps ask about what one of the Nucks' goalies would be worth? Their goaltending this year has been horrid, they are a veteran team that thinks they have a chance to win the cup but they need a goalie. If they haven't asked Gillis what he wants then they are idiots.

That said, I have no idea what this trip was about. Gillis plays his cards close to his chest and will always be that way. I find it quite entertaining watching people trying to figure out what he's doing.

Anyone who thinks Luongo will still be here when the trade deadline's done is dreaming. The coaching staff loves Cory and Gillis isn't going into the playoffs with a 5.3 million-dollar distraction on the bench. Lou is relaxed and playing great right now but the powers that be know damn well that will change in the post-season.

The Canucks still have a viable shot at Stanley and to let that big a cap hit ride the pine in the playoffs when we have big need of an upgrade up front would be stupid. Gillis knows this and he's riding Luongo while he's hot to drive up the price while other teams watch their goaltenders falter and start to get desperate.

We should get a very good roster forward and a really good prospect for Lou if he keeps playing with any semblance of the way he is right now.

I doubt he'll still be here in March.

Cowards die a thousand times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once.

herb wrote:I still maintain that the best strategy is to ride Luongo and Schneider here in this oddball shortened season, hope the team gets and can stay healthy, add where needed towards the trade deadline and make another huge push towards the holy grail.

Some argue that it's a poor allocation of resources to have two goalies eating up $9.3M in cap space but it's not like the Canucks have available options they can spend that money on. With the cap going down next year it's about cutting salary and adding some valuable, cheap assets. Those types of assets don't help the team now, so why dump Luo's salary just for the sake of it when that's a better off-season move?.

I have to agree. We can always buy out Ballard if we need more salary room this summer. But, I'd love a nice 3-4 year cheap contract for an up-and-comer as aprt of any deal, and not a $4.5 mil long term deal for a Brooks Laich kinda guy (great player, but expensive, and 29)

Tciso wrote: But, I'd love a nice 3-4 year cheap contract for an up-and-comer as aprt of any deal, and not a $4.5 mil long term deal for a Brooks Laich kinda guy (great player, but expensive, and 29)

Just for shits and giggles, Burr is set to have a $4.5 cap hit next yr. Not that I'm a proponent of acquiring Laich.

Burrows, Garrison, Hamhuis, Bieksa all at 4.5 - 4.6. Edler and Kesler at 5 ,Sedins at 6..... Schneids at 4..... that's 44 million for 9 players. Basically 20 million more for 14 other guys and that's after they turf Ballard and Booth. Brooks Laich aint coming here.

Lu is playing great..... no need to make this deal until the summer time . If it isn't a good hockey trade with some good young talent coming back and a solid ufa rental ( who is NOT the centerpiece of the deal) then fuck it.